I've had burritos at both El Rey and Benny's and I think they are actually among the worst I've had. Best I've had in nyc (aside from the ones at kitchen/market which is now closed) are in Brooklyn at La taqueria, but as other posters have said, they really are not going to come anywhere close to what you can get in the mission.

I second the Benny's rec, and if you're willing to schlep to Brooklyn, I'm a big fan of Taco Chulo - http://www.tacochulo.com/index.html - which kind of reminded me of Taqueria Cancun's style of burritos (but not as cheap as $4, unfortunately).

really? benny's and taco chulo? we all have our tastes, but those are the two that stand out as the worst in my mind. the blandest of the bland. i wish i had good suggestions for the OP, but do not. i sometimes get the burrito at Bonita (also in Brooklyn- sorry) and that is the only one i eat- not really mission style but pretty good. good luck!

That, my friend, is going to be tough and eventually lead to a lot of disappointment. It's been about 16 years since leaving SF and have found nothing remotely close in NYC. It's theorized that the patterns of migration just aren't the same and thus haven't brought those SF/Mex culinary traditions back east. To be sure, there are pockets of Mexican enclaves here in NYC / Brooklyn, but perhaps not from the same regions of Mexico that are mirrored in SF.

If anyone has any good, recent suggestions and can compare them to those small, SF area hole-in-the-wall, burrito / taco joints where abuela is lovingly rolling out flour tortillas, I'd be amazed but grateful. None of the gringo-ized mini-chains come close.

Hi. As a burrito fanatic born and bred in SF, I feel your pain. Your best option for a Mission-style burrito is honestly one of the chains like Chipotle. Downtown Bakery does decent carne asada burritos. I'm also partial to the asada burritos at Pio Maya in the Village. If you're in Soho or Grammercy at lunch, the Calexico cart is another place that's good. Cosmic Cantina does Mission style burritos but their meat can be very hit or miss. Honestly, though, the best way to scratch the itch is to hit Tulcingo Del Valle for a torta al pastor with avocado instead of guac -- quite tasty for NYC.

PS: AVOID BENNY'S AT ALL COSTS! I mean no disrespect to those who recommended, it, but a Benny's burrito is not what you're looking for. Please trust me on this...

Gotta go to Brooklyn - take the express D train to Sunset Park. It's so quick, it'll hardly pain you that you have to leave Manhattan. And in a year you'll move to Brooklyn anyway, so you might as well start getting to know it.

I can't claim to be any sort of real SF style burrito aficionado since I only lived in the bay area for a year -- but the Calexico cart seems to me a very near match to what you'll find in the Mission.

I agree, I've had Chipotle and Burritoville burritos that came closer to hitting the mark then any of these other suggestions....I've also had one of the worst burritos ever at one Chipotle location so I think it's hit or miss.

I find that the best advice is if someone ever tells you they've found the perfect burrito in New York and it's just like San Francisco...it's usually going to be lousy.